While embedded in a teaching health center, Jeremy Berger, OMS IV, SOMA, rediscovered the importance of patient advocacy.
Ten years ago, when I was a caregiver for my ailing grandfather, I realized patients often need advocates.
School of life
The Navajo American Indian Reservation in Cameron, Ariz., is only three hours from the ATSU campus in Mesa, Ariz., but to the medical and dental students who participated in a Project Pueblo service trip, the area appeared more like a Third World country.
Work hard, play hard
During Founder’s Day, second-year Smashers fought it out with first-year Kirksville Crunchers in the annual women’s flag football game on the Missouri campus. Smashers won 37-7.
With spring break upon us, Kathleen DiCaprio, PhD, chair of the Doctor of Health Sciences program at A.T. Still University-College of Graduate Health Studies, discusses Zika virus. Zika is an emerging mosquito-borne virus that has been recorded in Africa, South America, Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Dr. DiCaprio has a history of teaching undergraduate, graduate, and medical courses in areas related to infectious diseases and infection control, immunology, public health, and emergency preparedness. What is Zika virus, and where did it come from? Zika virus is a Flavivirus that is transmitted, mostly, to humans by the Aedes mosquito. The virus was discovered around 1948 from a febrile monkey in the Zika Forest, a tropical forest in Uganda. How do people get Zika virus? People get infected with Zika virus either through the bite of an infected female Aedes mosquito or sexual transmission from a man infected with the virus. Additionally, pregnant women can pass Zika virus to her fetus during pregnancy. What are the symptoms? Most people infected with Zika do not experience symptoms. If symptoms do arise, they are usually mild and last a few days to a week. The most common symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis (red eyes) and sometimes muscle pain and headache. Who is at risk? Anyone traveling to a place where Zika virus has been reported and who are exposed to mosquitoes are at risk. Additionally, having sexual intercourse with an infected man may also increase risk of contracting the virus. Probably the most noteworthy at risk include pregnant women and their growing babies. There are no vaccines or treatments to-date, what are some appropriate preventative measures you recommend? If you are traveling to a place where Zika virus has been found, it is definitely a good idea to take steps to prevent mosquito bites. Also, using a condom during sex to minimize risk of transmission. You can get information about areas with Zika from the CDC website at cdc.gov/zika. It has been reported that microcephaly may be linked to Zika virus. How might the virus affect pregnancies? Although early studies have demonstrated in infected mice that the virus could infect neurons, researchers are still trying to figure out the connection and specifics. Some data support an association between the occurrences of microcephaly with infection early in pregnancy. At this point, there is much concern regarding complications of Zika virus infection including microcephaly as well as Guillain-Barré syndrome, a disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves. Dr. DiCaprio adds that in the U.S., there have only been travel-associated cases and no local mosquito-borne Zika cases. There have been some local mosquito-borne cases reported in U.S. Territories, including Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and America Samoa. According to the CDC, the number of Zika cases among travelers visiting or returning to the U.S. will likely increase, however, 80 percent of cases will not be diagnosed.
1960s
Wilbert W. Stoever, DO, MACOI, ’61, received the 2015 Outstanding Physician award from the Osteopathic Founders Foundation of Tulsa, Okla., for his service to patients, community, the osteopathic profession, and the education of young osteopathic physicians in the Tulsa community.
ATSU
Nelida Acosta is ATSU’s new senior administrative assistant for strategic university partnerships. She has worked at the University since 2011.
Kimberly Blackman was named associate director of alumni relations for the Missouri campus. She began her new role in April 2015.
Larry Wickless, DO, ’67, was named board president for 2016 for the American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF). Dr. Wickless grew up in Kirksville, Mo., and graduated with his undergraduate degree at Truman State University. He then went on to earn his doctorate at A.T. Still University’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM). Dr. Wickless also served as a board member for ATSU from 1996-2004. “Dr. Wickless is a change agent who has held many leadership roles in the osteopathic profession. We are honored to tap his expertise to help grow our donor base and our impact,” said AOF Executive Director Stephen Downey. As AOF president, Dr. Wickless aims to focus on fundraising through matching grants and major donors and supporting more projects that benefit the profession. Congratulations to Dr. Wickless on his accomplishments!
Board members often make big decisions. Not too often do board members make unanimous decisions. As for ATSU, its Board of Trustees embraces a collaborative, consensus decision-making process whereby all members must agree on every issue.
“Endeavors succeed or fail because of the people involved. Only by attracting the best people will you accomplish great deeds.” – Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell
Ron Winkler is a busy man. Yet he always seems to find time for ATSU. Since becoming a member of ATSU’s Board of Trustees in 2009, he has attended every quarterly board meeting as well as every Missouri campus commencement program.